Slow-down and sheet-straightening mechanism.



A. J. HUGHES & A. J. SLADE, JR. SLOW DOWN AND SHEET STRAIGHTENING MECHANISM APPLICATION FILED MAILSL 1311.

1 1 28,877, Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

A. J; HUGHES ii A J SLADE, JR. SLC-W DOWN AND SHEET TRAIGHTENING MECHANISM.

APPLFUATIUF TILED MAB. "51,1114

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

WITNESSES 4 /Q a A,

A HEMHJ.

A J. HUGHES & A. J. SLADE, JR.

SLOW DOWN ANDSHEEI STRAIGHTENING MECHANISM APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31, 1914 Patented Feb. 16, 1915 4 SHBETS-SHEET 3.

KN on 3% wm EM I/WE/VTORS' WITNESSES ATTORNEYJ.

A. J. HUGHES & A. J. SLADE, JR. SLOW DOWN AND SHEET STRMGHTENLNG MEGHANISSL APPLWATION FILED MARIN. W14

1,128,877. Patented Feb. 16, 1915 1SHEETS"SHEEI gsslgy ugimgm Q WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR J. HUGHES AND ALBERT 3.. SLADE, JB.,

0 PEARL RIVER, NEW YORK, ASSIGN- ORS TO DEXTER FOLDER COMPANY, OF PEARL RIVER, NEW YQRK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SLbW-DOWN AND SHEET-STBAIGHTENING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

lotented Feb. 16, 1915.

Application held March 81., 1914. Serial No. 828,541.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ARTHUR .J. Huonns and ALBERT J. SLADE, Jr-., both citizens of the United States, and both residing at Pearl River, in the county of Rockland and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Slow- Down and Sheet-Straightenin Mechanism, of which the following isaoil and clear specification.

This invention relates to slow down end sheet straightening mechanisms for feeding machines and has for its primary ob ect to simplify theconstruction and arrangement of parts in mechanisms of this character with a view to renderin such mechanisms more eilicient and dura la and the parts thereof more readily timed and adjusted.

Certain specific objects in the construction and arrangement ofparts will appear in the specification and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which the invention is exemplified in a preferred embodiment.

In'the drawings-Fl re 1 is a diagrammatic top plan view 0 a feeding machine embodying laterally spaced mechanisms for slowing down and strai htenin sheets; Fig. 2 is e side elevation 0 one 0 said mechanisms; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the some taken from the opposite side, of said mechanism, showing the carriage in its rearmost position, parts beingbroken away and parts shown in section; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, with the carriage in its forward position Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the gripper, parts being broken away and parts shown in section.

In tile preferred embodiment of our invention shown in the drawings, a bracket or support 1. may be mounted in any suitable manner, such as by the rods or shafts 2 and 3 which are ordinarily carried by the side frames 1 of the feeding machine. Rigidly secured to the bracket 1 is a track bar t which projects rearwardly from said bracket. Said track bar is preferably provided with beveled edges 5 to adapt it to slidablv mount a dove-tailed slide 6 which constitutes the main body portion of a carriage whirl. thus reciproczibly mounted.

- 18 is a pin 19 upon roller 20, said cam roller being suitably dis- Rigidly secured to the slide-6 orvcarriegc is e substantially U-shaped frame 7 upon which sheet-gripping members 8 and 9 are carried. Said frame projects laterally from the slide 6 in suitable position to have the later-oi ed e of a sheet 1.0 pass between the branchest ereof The gripping member 9 18 provided with a. post 11 which projects upwardlyfrom the inner end of the lower branch of the frame 7 Said gripping mom her is preferably a cup-she ed shell having a hub portion 12 journaled u on the post 11, the gripping surface of sai member being preferably flat in-the form of an annulus formed by providing a recess .in the upper surface of gripping member 9 for receiving the head 13 of post 'll. Spaced from the slide 6 and extending rearwardly from the upper branch of the frame 7 is a rod or pin 14 upon which is 'ournaled the hub 15 of a bent lever emb ying a. lower arm 17 which carries a post upon which the upper gripping member 8 is iournaled. The upper arm 18 projects upwardly and inwardly over the track bar 4, forming an acute angle with the lower arm 17 Pro ecting inwardly from the end of the g per arm which is journe ed a cam posed to be engaged at periodic intervals by a cam bar 21. Said cam bar 21 is pivotally connected at 22 and 23 with u pair of guide links 2% ahd 25 which are journals respectively upon pins 26 and '27 which project inwardly from the track bar 4. Cam bar 21 is provided with depending teppet arms 28 and 29 suitably disposed to be engaged successively; by a reciproceble slide or roller 30 to e I Links 24 and 25 are provided with hubs 31 upon which the cam bar 21 rests when in lowered position. A stop pin 32 extends inwardly from the track bar 4 in suitable position to engage the forward teppet arm 29 just after the links 22% and "25 have passed their dead center positions, so that when the cam bar is'raised, it will remain in elevated position until again displaced rearwardly to fall into lowered position. Dead center position as applied to the links 24 and 25 is intended to designate that position of either link in which the line connecting the pivotal presently referred to.v

ally connected at 36 to one end of a link 37,

centers at opposite ends thereof, extends vertically upward from the pivotal center 26 or 27 on the fixed support or track bar 4.

Suitable and eiiicient means for maintaining the sheet gripping means 8 and 9 apart at the rear end of their travel, is provided by a cam 33 which preferably forms an integral part of the guide link 24. It will be seen in F ig. 4 that the cam roller 20 will be engaged by the cam 33 when the slide or roller is in rearmost position, said slide or roller being then in abutment with the rear tappet arm 28 which acts as a stop for limiting the rear movement of said slide or roller 30. A slot or guideway 34 is provided in the slide 6 within which the slide or roller 30 travels,'said slot providing a lost motion connection between the slide 6 and said slide or roller 30. Any suitable means may be provided for reciprocating the slide or roller 30, such for example as by a crank arm 35 (see Fig. 2) which is pivotthe other end of said link being provided with a laterally projecting pin 38 which, in the present embodiment, constitutes the slide as well as the journal of the roller 30 which travels in the slot 34. The slide 6 is normally pressed forwardly by a spring 40 .coiled about a rod 41 intermediately 0t an abutment 42 mounted on the rear end of the rod 41 and an upwardly projecting lug 43 mounted on the slide 6. The forward end of the spring rod 41 is mounted upon a pin 44 which projects laterally from a lug 45 rojecting u wardly from a plate 46 on the 'orward en of the bracket 1. Projecting laterally from the outer face of the slide 6 is a pin or stud 47 upon which is journaled the hub 48 of an oscillatory arm 49, said arm being yieldably held in forward position by means of-a spring 50'coiled upon the stud 47, said spring having one end secured to a pin 51 in the hub 48, and its other end secured to a pin 52 carried by a knurled nut 53, said nut being provided \vitha flange 54 having radial notches 55 into which a pin or cotter 56 which is carried by ,the' outer end of the pin 47 extends. A stop 57 is mounted in the forward edge of the slide 6 to limit the forwardmovement of the arm 49. Pivotally mounted on the outer end of the arm 49, is abar 58 provided with ratchet teeth 59, said bar resting within the grooves of a roller 60 which is journaled upon a pin 61 projecting laterally from the plate 46. The boss 62 of a guide 63 is rigidly secured to the pin 61 by means of a set screw 64.

-bers 8 and}? being thereby release thesheet. Ordinarily, however, before this which is journaled upon a pin 71 project ing from the plate 46. Stops 72 and 73 which are mounted in a plate 46 serve to limit the movements of the arm 641. Pro

jecting rearwardly from the hub 67 of the pendulum 66 is a pawl or dog 74 which is adapted to be moved into engagement with the ratchet teeth 59 when the pendulum 66 is engaged by the forward edge of a sheet. Threaded within a lug 75 on the slide 6 is an adjustable abutment 76 which limits the rearward movement of the arm 49 after the operated mechanism embodying arts 79 to may or may not be used accor in to the character of the machine with which the feeding machine is to be used. This will be understood from the operation as hereinafter described.

In Fi 1, two sheet-feeding instrument alities 7 are shown diagrammatically, each of said instrumentalities comprisin the mehcanism hereinbefore described. (Tue of shid instrumentalities is disposed adjacent each lateral edge of a sheet a feeding machine.

The operation of these instrumentalities will now be understood. Briefly "described passing through the action is as follows: According to the positions of the parts shown in Fig. 4, the slide 6 is in rearmost position. Also the arm 35 which reciprocates the slide or roller 30 is in rear position. Cam roller 20 is raised by the cam 33 on the guide link 24.

In this position of the parts, a sheet passing through the feeding machine passes between the gripping members 8 and E As the slide 6 is permitted to move forwardly under the pressure of spring 40, the cam roller 20 drops from the cam33 thus permitting the gripping members 8 and 9 to,"v clamp the sheet and force the sheet to slow down to correspond to the relatively slb'wer movement of the slide 6. As the. forward move ment of the slide continu s, the slide or roller 30 comes into abutmen with the forward tappet arm 29 which causes the cam bar 21 to ride forwardly until said tappet arm rests against the stop pin In th s position of the cam bar 21 the cam roller israised as shown in F ig. 5, the gripping memaction has taken place, the forward edge of the sheet has struck the pendulum 66 and caused the do 7 4 tomove into engagement with the rate et bar 58. The subsequent J' forward, movement of the slide 6, forces, the

osvina fovv mm (39 upv stop 72 tumeijvv iiif'Ql t llg the meat, of the slnie at pr tmr time that fin? grigzy T After this the :ufifion of th tapes 78 sxerves to bring in from; gagw. T Zm Hfiuti'fl; uzrws; m, m lattemliy spaced ywmiuhnm (S :1 re an by the forward edge of th ;t1a=e,1-:cr-a

resi 13m forward 111mm mt 0f im m tha prior to the (finer hick ea en stra ghten the a? Pet whiie at 3 w pmm slowing dawn its 'mm'mnrm. v classes of machine-a which irom feedurh', th: si'wees must be rapidly and comivw'nmly ihut it m be in the rev-1m m1 wmmni: vi mtahng an-imam fw each been entird'y \v' thdlmnn EX? 21w M i c mcs nec- 'mviii'ing the pervmh nfiw xllw whim mu [em K Mam):

m a sham-fir 1mg mswhms-v a QM: 2559 ramps-n M m1 5m Carriage Ewing pro ided with ing means mm ab'ie Emu) and om sheeban gaging pnsitian, mas-(1m:- fm' muvmg $113? shm$-engaging main in; and 0m; :1? engaging pusitkm irwimiing a mew? sink int-r) and. mi f -usitiun 12'} !a heebenga 65511;: mew next (if mntmx sheet when said im'riage is i marry sit-Run, and. means far reciprocating spud L riage.

2. In a dm'ice 01'? time character describmi a sheet gripping device, means havixsg' a hm: motion mar-fiction. with said gripping; deviae for reeipn wstmg the whim, and means fm'opening and clos mg said sheet gripping devi ==ai opening andliclosing mcnns including an eiwment which hbkis the gripping Gev'scv open in its rearmrlvst posi- Lion, smd l ment being movable into and out of posit 1 3?: to hold said gripping d0- vice own by the mmmtion 0f Hm np zxiing and elos lnii imam-1 Tin si: Qflffrfidiflg lam shim, a shwctgrig' pe'r hm mg wKatiwfiy movsbls jaws, an tsiemeuc mm r-wkt to and fina in km: diwnixirm of fmiwl a 1181 m 11, a Ens-1t moth-n mnnwtmn with mid grig 1', a. cam miler monnmil nn 1m!) 0-? mid jaws. a cam bar, Rial? fur mm)" ab y mmmfing the opposite ands 013 sud mm 2m", one msaid links,

upp-c, 1e xrnds 01' La trawl.

4. in a shiFfi fee-fling muvhine, a s-:!wut havmg Iclativciy movable jaws :z numb in and fax) in the directiun p x and imvil'xg a 5091 motion connect'lml mm mu 3 flipper, 3. mm {0H6}? nmunted oz:

jaws, a mm mm K U'ILS fm" mmnunmi'mg the spy-mite ends of 91nd cum and nmans carrivd. by Raid cam bar to we d by said rs'iida Hdjment the app ifg Urine mm; M 211M iinkss be. mg V1 with 2 2 rinse miuvt ai m P!- kw m a 5: mm. nu. chimneys: dswx'ibe, a griyp'i'ngf Meagan-aim Em? reniprmab- W wmwmd means far npeninganufios- 7 2w? uiurc ppmg dravm, said a)??? ing "1W? \JhIFSiP-g means inc'iuding an element em m'ifle mm and out of pnsitirm to hold the w v m-r1 ivs ;'-'earm0$ posi- H In :2 Fm mug; machine a re ipmcahle gripper" frame, a gx'ippvr mmnbergmrtaking' (if (he x'evipro nmvy movement of said frame, a ham p3a-'r,)'=!1iy mmmte on said. frame, a gripper nxembar mounted on one arm 01 mm ievm', and 1112335 fer 0pemiiiw g mm M saii lav 2?. sad mm a iix'w! snppuri iinks 'mvatmv a CR '1 W33? u ii in m fe h1g5 mmr'ii'azw, m r zcipz'ncflixie ig mer cmnw'sxm; wplngl' membcm, 0119 of v 'fiwh mm! vm'ely to the othr, 1 51110242 gt'ivuta ily memnied on .-:ai 1i zmed wg' wwi. a bar pivotaliy cm nerwd In em?! nk links and adapted (E; fi hy ,0 wine 1 "n1 me: (if pngitun 'fm warming mid 'am :wbie gripper member,

and means for moving said bar, one of said links being provided with a canrlike pro tuberance adapting it to hold said movable gripper member in open position when the cam bar is in inoperative position.

10. In a feeding machine, a reciprocable gripper comprising gripping members, one of which is movable relatively to the other, a fixed support, links pivotally mounted on and extending above said fixed support, a bar pivotally connected to each of said links for operating said movable gripper member, and means for moving said bar, including tappet arms depending from said bar and a reciprocable slide adapted to engage said arms successively, and means adapting said links to sustain said bar in raised position on one side of the dead center position of said links.

11. In a feeding machine, a reciprocable gripper comprising gripping members, one of which is movable relativel to the other,

a fixed support, links pivotal y mounted on the same, a cam movable into and out of position to open said sheet-gripping device adjacent one end of its reciprocatory movement, and another cam movable into and out of position to hold the device open adjacent the other end of its reciprocatory movement;

13. In a sheet-feeding machine, a sheetgripping device, means for reciprocating the same, a cam movable into. and out of position to open said sheehgripping device adjacent one end of its reciprocatory movement, and another cam movable into and out of position to hold the dbvice openadjacent the other end of its reciprocatory movement, said cams being operated by the reciprocatory movement of said device. 14. In a feeding machine, a support, a pair of links pivotally connected to and extendilng above said support, a cam bar pivotally connected to each of said links and adapted thereby to be raised and lowered when moved endwise. a reciprocable gripper, sheet gripping members carried thereby, one of said members being movable relatively to the other, a cam arm for said movable gripping; member adapted to be engaged by said cam-bar in raised positirm, sheet actuatwl means for controlling the reciproca tor movemont of said grip and a reciprocatory slide having lost motion connection with said gripper, yield-able means for (il'll' ing said slide forwardly, said cam car being provided with tappet' arms depending on opposite sides of said slide to be engaged thereby in its reciprocatory movements, and means for limiting the forward movement of said cam bar, said cam bar being thereby adapted to limit the forward travel of said slide.

15. In a sheet feeding machine, a gripper frame having spaced horizontal arms projecting laterally inwardly and disposed re spectivcly above and below the path of a lateral edge of a sheet passing through said feeding machii'ie, a sheet gripping jaw carried by the lower arm of said gripper frame, a lever pivotally mounted on the upper arm of said gripper frame, a socct gripping jaw connected to one arm of said lever, means for raising and lowering the other arm of said lever, and means for reciprocating said rame.

16. In a sheet feeding machine, a gripper frame having spaced horizontal arms projecting laterally inwardly and disposed respectively above and below the path of a lateral edge or" a sheet passing through said feeding machine, a sheet gripping jaw ried by the lower arm of said gripper frame, a lever pivotally mounted on the upper arm of said gripper frame, a sheet gripping jaw connected to one arm of said lever, means for raising and lowering the other arm of said lover, and means for reciprocating said frame, said sheet gripping jaws being rotatable about axes transverse to said sheet.

17. In a sheet feeding machine, a gripper frame having spaced horizontal arms projecting laterally inwardly and disposed respectively aboveandv below the path of a lateraledge'of a sheet passing throngh said feeding machine, a sheet gripping aw car-- ried by the lower arm of said gripper frame, a lever pivotally mounted on the upper arm of said gripper frame, a sheet gripping jaw connected to one arm of said lever, said arm overhanging the Lirst said sheet gripping jaw, the other arm of said lever extending at an angle to the first mentioned arm and above the same, a cam disposed in the angle between said lever arms and adapted to engage the'hppor arm, and means for reciprocating said gripper frame under the cow trol of a shectpassing through 'said ma chine.

1F In a feeding machine, a gripper cons prising relatively movable sheet gripping javis. means for recipri'icnting said gripper and slim-t actuated means l'wr controlling and sheet actuated means for controlling the reciprocating movements of said gripper, said sheet gripping jaws being rotatable about axes transverse to. the plane of travel of said sheet, each of said gripping jaws having rounded surfaces disposed toward each other and flat gripping surfaces adapted to engage the opposite surfaces of said sheet.

20. In a feeding machine, the combination of a track bar, a carriage reciprocable upon said track bar, a ratchet bar pivoted at one end to said carriage, a sheet actuated pawl for engaging said ratchet bar to limit the forward movement of said carriage, sheet gripping jaws mounted on said carriage, one of said jaws being movable relatively to the other, a pair of spaced parallel links pivoted at one end to said track bar, a cam bar pivotally connected to the other ends of said links, said cam bar being adapted to impart the movements to said movable sheet'gripping jaw, and means for reciprocating said cam bar to raise and lower it.

21. In a feeding machine, the combination of a track bar, a carriage reciprocable upon said track bar, a ratchet bar pivoted at one end to said carriage, a sheet actuated pawl for engaging said ratchet bar to limit the forward movement of said carriage, sheet gripping jaws mounted on said carriage, one of said jaws being movable relatively to the other, a pair of spaced parallel links pivoted at one end to said track bar, a cam bar pivotally connected to the other ends of said links, said cam bar being adapted to impart the movements to said movable sheet gripping jaw, and means for reciprocating 'said cam bar to raise and lower it, one of said links being provided with a cam surface which is elevated above said cam bar in lowered position, the cam surface on said link being thus adapted to hold the movable sheet gripping-jaw in raised positron adjacent one end of the reciprocatory movement of said carriage.

22. In a sheet feeding machine, a reciprocable carriage provided with releasable sheet engaging means, including a member normally disposed in the path of a sheet for terminating the forward moi ement of sairbcarriage, means for elevating said mem er out of thepath of said sheet, and means for holding said member in elevated position during the return movement of said carriage, said holding means including a rock shaft about which said member is movable, a pin carried by said rock shaft,

and a cam operated arm for displacing said 23. In a sheet feeding machine, a sheet gripper comprising sheet gripping jaws, means for moving said gripper, means for moving one of said ljilVVS relatively to the other jaw to open and close said sheet gripper, and means operated by said jaw-moving means for holding the movable jaw away from the other jaw when the gripper is in its rearmost osition.

24. In a sheetceding machine, a sheetgripping device, means for reciprocating the same, a cam movable into and out of position to open said sheet-gripping device adjacent one end of its reciprocatory movement, and another cam movable into and out of position to hold the device open adjacent the other end of its reciprocatory movement, said cams being operated by the reciprocatory movement of said device, one of said cams constituting a guide link for the other cam.

In a feeding machine, a reciprocating gripper provided witha cam arm for imparting the opening and closing movements thereto, a cam bar for actuating said cam arm, a fixed support, spaced links for movably supporting said cam bar from said fixed support, each of said links having a lower pivotal connection with said fixed support and an upper pivotal connection with said cam bar, means for reciprocating said cam bar, said links being adapted to raise and lower said cam bar during its reciprocatory movement, and means for limitingthe reciprocatory movement into gripper operating position to a position adjacent to but beyond the dead center vertical position of said links to sustain the cam bar in operative position.

26. In a sheet-feeding machine, a track bar, a carriage reciprocable on said track bar, sheet-engaging means mounted on said carriage and provided with a cam operated element, a cam for operatin'gsaid element, spaced links pivotally mounted on said track bar and pivotally connected to said cam, one of said links being provided with a portion which projects upwardly into a position to hold said cam operated element in elevated position in the rearmost position of said sheet-engaging means.

ARTHUR J. HUGHES. ALBERT J. SLADE, JR. Witnesses:

R; T. Bo'neowas, Ron'r. H. AnMs'rnoNe. 

